The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-04

great No. 3 well at Muncie shows a roek-pressure
test the gas of $50 pounds. One of the most
satisfactory and advantageous points in the
eluncie gas district is that the Trenton rock Is
struck above the level, and in all the boring,
gas vas reached without salt water being struck.
At many other points in the Indiana gas field,
salt water is struck with the Trenton rock,
showing the Gas to be dangerously below the sea
level. Tia tHnncie's advantages were quickly
recognized q shown by the fact that the
and has changed hands almost
in body in the last thirty days. the transac-
tions amounting to 81, 100000. The actual out
lay in the wells and works amounts TO 500, 600
Thirty-fve thousand dollars worth Of eight-inch
wroughr-iron pipe has been bought, and is now
lying in the streets. The work of putting it
under ground will begin immediately. Real
estate at Munce, in the opinion of level-hesded
citizens and the many hundreds of business men
who have visited the place recently, has not
than some gas towns, but Muncie is city
with city's advantages. There are three rail-
roads: an excellent system of water works. with
nearly ten miles of mains; the Gamewell fire.
alarm system; both the Brush and Edison sys-
TENS of electric light: artificial gas for street
and residence lighting: two miles of sewerage
hrst-class system, capable of being extended;
there are forty miles or more of well-improved
macadamized streets a we'll patroniZed tele-
phone system, and the handsomest court house
In the STATE now nearing completion. MuLcie
Is specially proud of her public schools, has
magnificent hghschool building, and has
superintendent Hon John VI. Bloss. late State
bestknown educators in the United States. This
bright little city sets an example to many larger
places In the State Like Indianapolis, she has
free public library. The Muncie library con-
talns J, 800 we'll selected volumes. and receives
all the leading newspapers and periodicals.
The pressure from the wells in the small pipes
now temporarily supplying dwellings is too
great. and low pressure gas will be used. as in
Pittsburg. There is already ten times more gas
supplied by the Muncie wells than be used
there is now, IN fact, natural gas enough going
thousand
pie.
A rather laughable difficulty has been brought
about in a number of the factories. AT the
shovel-hande factory there is considerable waste
of excellent kindling wood. It was, before the
Introduction of the gas burned in the furnaces,
now they can neither use il nor give it away So
a chimney has been built with a great fireplace
below, called hell, into which cords of this
kIndilng wood is carried automatically and
burned up being absolutely thrown away. A
like condition of things exists at the skewer
factory, which is a novel and profitable enter
prise. At this factory there are forty employees
engaged in operating wonderfully rapid ma
chinery for making 'skewers," the wooden pins
that the butcher uses to fasten roasts together.
A car standing on the switch at the factory
day was being loaded with shipment of these
meat-fasteners to cross the ocean and be landed
at Glasgow, Scotland. A short time ago large
shipment of mutton skewers made to the
island con tinent, Australia. The awmills that
a short time ago burned their dust under their
boilers now cart it out upon the commons, which
is covered with smoldering heaps of this dis
carded fuel
The isterstate-commerce bill has rather helped
Muncie in the matter or freights, though she
had no complaints to make before the new law
went into operation. The plans for belt road
have been matured the route surveyed and
right of way secured. This road is for the bene-
fit OF factories needing and switching IA
ciities from road to another. Negotiations
are pending for electric cable road. Eleven
of the pike roads that come into Muncie free
of toll, and the others will be made Unlike
most places, the citizens all pulling together.
There is no discussion of politics. religion, base
ball, woman suffrage or temperance. The mat
ter of natural gas is occasionally referred to- and
upon that subject every body in Muncie agrees
As to natural gas Muncie has strong wells-a
half dozen of them-and at her point above
the sea level is assured of lasting supply. AS
an eloquent citizen forcibly expressed il, 1--WE
have got all the gas need. and id sight
more than use."
Wave, Munce, all thy banners wave
And charge with all thy chivary.